Astros, Rangers Both Fall Short on the Road

ASTROS-ROYALS

Royals celebrate Cueto deal with 5-1 victory over Astros

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) _ The Kansas City Royals traded for Johnny Cueto, and then used Yordano Ventura’s seven sharp innings to beat Dallas Keuchel and the Houston Astros 5-1 on Sunday.

Ventura (5-7) allowed one run and six hits in just his second win in his last seven starts. The right-hander, who won 14 games last year, was demoted to Triple-A Omaha on Tuesday and then recalled the next day after the Royals learned left-hander Jason Vargas would miss the rest of the year with an elbow injury.

The Royals announced during the game that they had acquired Cueto from Cincinnati for minor league left-handers Brandon Finnegan, John Lamb and Cody Reed, drawing a big cheer at Kauffman Stadium.

RANGERS-ANGELS

Trout has grand slam, solo HR in Angels’ win over Rangers

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) _ Mike Trout had a grand slam and a solo shot among his season-high four hits, leading the Los Angeles Angels to a 13-7 victory over the Texas Rangers on Sunday.

C.J. Cron also went deep and rookie Andrew Heaney kept his unblemished record intact, helping the Angels end a three-game skid and regain sole possession of the AL West lead by a game over the Houston Astros _ whom they play in a three-game series beginning Tuesday night at Minute Maid Park.

Heaney (5-0) allowed two runs and six hits over six innings in his sixth start for the Angels after making five starts last season with the Miami Marlins and going 0-3 with a 5.83 ERA in seven total appearances.

The 24-year-old left-hander has thrown at least six innings and allowed fewer than three runs in all of his outings this season. The only pitcher in club history to do that in each of his first seven starts with the club was Jered Weaver in 2006.

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